Abstract

Heavy withdrawal of artesian water in this area has created large cones of depression at Savannah and Fernandina and smaller cones at Jacksonville and Brunswick. If a substantial amount of water is being removed from storage in the formation, the cone of depression will continue to enlarge with no increase in withdrawal; otherwise it may be approximately stable. The coefficients of storage of the artesian lime-stones indicate whether it is likely that a large part of the withdrawal is coming from storage.The results of pumping tests indicate that the coefficient of storage is about .00040 at Savannah, about .00025 at Fernandina, and about .00030 at Jacksonville. If these coefficients are representative, the water levels will become approximately stable within a few months, or a few years at most, after the rate of withdrawal becomes stable.Large additional supplies of artesian water may be developed in most parts of the area providing new well fields are located at sufficient distances from existing ones and the lower parts of the water-bearing limestones are not developed too extensively. The present withdrawal at Savannah may ultimately cause salty water to move toward the well fields, but the movement would be slow enough to permit an orderly development of supplies of artesian water in areas west of Savannah.